The Riverside-Brookfield High School baseball team continued its season-long roll by winning four games last week. Since a 2-2 start, the Bulldogs have won 13 of 15 games to post a 15-4 overall record and 12-2 mark in the Metro Suburban Conference.
“We have had solid pitching and timely hitting from a number of different players,” RBHS coach Dallas Till said. “We battled back a few times recently from early deficits so it has been nice to see the team rally back.”
RBHS capped off its perfect 4-0 run last week by outslugging Guerin 15-8 at Ehlert Park in Brookfield on April 26. The Bulldogs jumped all over the Gators with six runs in the first inning and four more in the second to take a commanding 10-0 lead.
Guerin responded well with five unanswered runs to draw within 10-5 in the top of the third. RBHS quickly regained momentum, however, with three runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 13-5.
The Bulldogs had 13 hits for the game. Ryan Cermak went 2-for-3 with a triple, double and RBI. Mike Schicker, Casey Vileta and Joe Kawiecki knocked in two runs apiece.
Starting pitcher Jacob Garvey earned the win, allowing five runs and six hits with four strikeouts in four innings of work. Jarod Turina threw well in relief with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts.
RBHS recorded even more impressive comeback wins at Aurora Central Catholic and Immaculate Conception.
Trailing ACC 3-0, the Bulldogs rallied with six unanswered runs (3 in the 5th inning; 3 in the 6th) to earn a 6-3 victory. With the game tied at 3-3, Cermak had the key hit of the game with a two-RBI single in the sixth.
In the previous inning, RBHS tied the score on a timely single by Schicker. Howie Hatton (2-for-3, 2 RBIs), Marco Ruiz (2-for-4), Cermak (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Schicker (2-for-4, RBI) powered a balanced attack which produced 14 hits.
A similar narrative occurred against Immaculate Conception in Elmhurst. The Bulldogs trailed 3-0 but rallied again with five runs in the middle innings. RBHS scored three runs in the fourth to draw even. In the fifth, RBHS tacked on two more runs, which made the difference in a 5-3 win. Hatton put the Bulldogs ahead 4-3 on an RBI single. In the fourth, Caden Vais provided a single that scored two runs.
Jeremy Heer pitched 5.1 innings to notch the victory, while Cermak picked up a save. Heer allowed three runs (two earned) and three hits and fanned four. Cermak struck out four of the six batters he faced to close out the game.
The Bulldogs also routed IC in an 8-0 victory at Ehlert Park. RBHS put the game away early with seven runs in the first. Cermak had two RBIs, while Schicker, Ruiz, Kawiecki, Turina and John Kosner each drove home a run against the Knights. Six players had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs.
Winning pitcher Nathan Roberto went the distance in a four-hit shutout. He struck out five and walked two.
“Production has come from all over the lineup,” Till said. “Recently, the bottom of our order has been putting the ball in play and moving runners over.”
While solid hitting and steady run production were expected this spring, the Bulldogs’ pitching has emerged as a viable strength. Cermak, Roberto, Turina, Heer, Garvey, James Frieh and Armando Mamolejo have teamed together to comprise a deep rotation.
RBHS hosts Holy Trinity in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 5. The first game starts at 10 a.m.
